Juan Gonzales uses one of the CAM's computers for job assistance.
The Cy Fair Assistance Ministries located at 11202 Huffmeister Road. provides food, clothing and job assistance to residents in the Cypress area. less

Juan Gonzales uses one of the CAM's computers for job assistance.
The Cy Fair Assistance Ministries located at 11202 Huffmeister Road. provides food, clothing and job assistance to residents in the Cypress ... more

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

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The clothing receiving area of the Cypress Assistance Ministries resale shop.

The clothing receiving area of the Cypress Assistance Ministries resale shop.

CAM's director of operations Kelly Thomas places shoes and other goods in the storage facility.

CAM's director of operations Kelly Thomas places shoes and other goods in the storage facility.

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

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CAM volunteer Vicki Seay places a toy horse in it's rightful area of the storeroom.

CAM volunteer Vicki Seay places a toy horse in it's rightful area of the storeroom.

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

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CAM volunteer Mary Almaraz, adds donated clothing to the large existing pile, with the assistance of director Tara Rauch.

CAM volunteer Mary Almaraz, adds donated clothing to the large existing pile, with the assistance of director Tara Rauch.

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

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Cypress Assistance Ministries focuses on next quarter century

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Cypress Assistance Ministries leaders are celebrating their 25th anniversary by focusing on the next 25 years.

Earlier this summer, the organization hosted an anniversary party at its headquarters on 11202 Huffmeister by introducing a new logo and mission statement.

"After 25 years, we need to make sure the services we offer are the services our clients need," said executive director Martha Burnes, who started with the group in January. "We started doing a series of surveys. We're asking people we are serving if there's something else they need. We want to put our heads together."

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The group plans to spend about six months gathering the information and analyzing it. "What we want to do is better serve the people who live here," Burnes said.

Cypress Assistance Ministries has also found a plot of land nearby where the group has hopes to build a new headquarters.

"We're hoping to launch a capital campaign within the next couple of months," Burnes said. "The building we're in we have leased for a couple of years - and now it's for sale. What we really need is a location where we can all be on the same property. We would like to be in our own facility that's more efficient."

And the group wants room to grow, she added.

"We're pretty much booked solid all the time, and luckily we've been able to keep up," Burnes said. "Still there are plenty of people who need our help."

Cypress Assistance Ministries was founded in July 1990 as the ministry of a local church, serving macaroni and cheese meals from the backseat of a car.

Within a year the organization became its own entity - with nonprofit status in place.

"That early vibrancy and that vision have never changed," Burnes said.

Today, Cypress Assistance Ministries serves members of the community in crisis through a number of services.

The group offers financial assistance for utilities, rent and mortgage to families that live in the zip codes it covers: 77065, 77095, 77429 and 77433.

"People come to us when they're in trouble," Burnes said.

In addition, the organization offers families access to its food pantry, vouchers for clothing from its Angels' Attic resale store, counseling services and school supplies for children in the family. There are special programs providing meals and gifts for the holidays.

The group also supplies clients with needed furniture and household goods, including linens and dishes.

The food pantry, located at 11265 Huffmeister, is a major part of the Cypress Assistance Ministries operation. Food donations come from area congregations, schools, scout groups, civic organizations, corporations, small businesses and individuals.

Families are allowed to shop for what their families need – and are assigned a certain number of points based on their family size.